NBSTSA Wound Management & Surgical Complications

Question 1

A wound that is left open initially and then closed several days later after infection risk decreases is classified as:

Accepted Answer

Tertiary intention (delayed primary closure)

Answer

Tertiary intention (delayed primary closure) involves intentionally leaving a wound open to reduce infection risk and closing it surgically 3–5 days later.

Question 2

Which complication is characterized by a loop of bowel protruding through an abdominal incision after surgery?

Accepted Answer

Evisceration

Answer

Evisceration is the protrusion of abdominal viscera (bowel) through a disrupted surgical incision, a surgical emergency requiring immediate intervention.

Question 3

When a surgical site infection (SSI) occurs within the skin and subcutaneous tissue only, it is classified as:

Accepted Answer

Superficial incisional SSI

Answer

The CDC classifies SSIs as superficial incisional (skin/subcutaneous), deep incisional (fascia/muscle), or organ/space (body cavity), based on the depth of involvement.

Question 4

Which suture technique provides the strongest abdominal fascial closure?

Accepted Answer

Figure-of-eight suture

Answer

The figure-of-eight suture provides a mass closure with double-strand reinforcement at each bite, making it particularly strong for high-tension fascial closures.

Question 5

A patient's wound shows redness, warmth, swelling, and purulent drainage on postoperative day 4. The MOST likely diagnosis is:

Accepted Answer

Surgical site infection

Answer

Classic signs of surgical site infection (SSI) include the cardinal signs of inflammation plus purulent drainage, typically appearing 4–8 days postoperatively.

NBSTSA - National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting Practice Test

NBSTSA - National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting Practice Test

NBSTSA Wound Management & Surgical Complications